17 



The varieties are multiplying without end, flowering the first season 

 from seed. The great difficulty now is to know which to select and which 

 to reject, all are so beautiful. 



Verbenas are important for three purposes, viz., for flowering in masses, 

 for the border, and for pot culture. Some varieties are very beautiful when 

 carefully cultivated in pots in the greenhouse, which when exposed to the 

 sun will not stand its scorching influence in consequence of the flimsiness 

 of the petals. Of this character was the white variety America, and 

 many others that gave great promise before tested by the sun in the 

 border. Others are very interesting in the borders, but quite unsuitable 

 for a brilliant mass, as the new variety Imperatrice Elizabeth, which has 

 small trusses of pretty flowers, white distinctly striped with purple; the 

 foliage quite peculiar, being deeply cut and jagged ; a profuse creeper, but 

 not strikingly showy. The verbena for masses should be of robust habit, 

 strong grower, throwing up a profusion of strong erect stems, bearing 

 large, well-formed trusses of flowers, whose petals are of such consistency 

 as to endure the most powerful sun. 



For a scarlet we have not yet seen a better one than the old Defiance. 

 This variety takes root readily, and, for rapid growth, long endurance, and 

 brilliancy of color, has not been excelled. The new variety, Mrs. Wood- 

 roff", is similar to Scarlet Defiance, but has larger trusses of flowers ; the 

 color is precisely the same ; and for a border flower preferable, and perhaps 

 for a mass, but not in our experience. Lord Raglan is a fine scarlet 

 variety, a shade darker than the two last, with a velvety crimson eye. 

 St. Marguerite is a fine old variety ; color rosy carmine, with a violet eye. 

 Orb of Day is darker than Defiance, inclining to a crimson ; petals are not 

 so regular as that variety, nor so firm, and not so good for a sunny exposure. 

 Charles is a seedling of mine ; color rosy scarlet, with a yellowish white 

 and distinct eye ; very pretty for borders. Phenomenon, brilliant scarlet ; 

 fine for borders. Novelty, (seedling,) a beautiful fancy variety ; brilliant 

 crimson, with a distinct white eye. Wonderful, (new last season;) supe- 

 rior ; rich plum purple, with white centre ; fine form, large truss, good 

 habit, and very conspicuous. These two last have appeared to the best 

 advantage when cultivated in pots, but they are indispensable for the 

 border. Isis is a variety with crimson flowers. 



Many of the White varieties are inclined to change to a pinkish hue, and 

 therefore not so desirable for a mass of white as those that do not have this 

 peculiarity. Snowflake is least objectionable on this account, but the 

 trusses are not so fine, nor the flowers so large, as Samoset. The new 

 variety, Mrs. Holford, has a still larger truss of pure white flowers, but not 

 tested for a large mass, but probably is superior. Neither of these three 

 varieties change very much, and are all suitable for this style of planting. 



Mr. Rand's new seedling white, for which the Society's silver medal was 

 awarded, promises well. 



Of the blue varieties there is nothing that excels Rand's Blue, for bed- 

 ding, in its class. It is very strong growing, throwing up an immense 

 number of elongated trusses, or rather spikes of purplish blue flowers. A 

 2 



